Smart home devices and applications took center stage at many tech events in 2017 from CeBIT to Computex, and even MWC 2017, as cybersecurity threats have continued to grow hand in hand with the increase of connected devices. Trend Micro Incorporated today released the “Trend Micro 2017 1H Smart Home Network Security Summary,” revealing the top 10 regions most affected by cyberattacks on a home router and identifying key factors for in-home cyber security threat.

What used to be the stuff of science fiction has turned into reality. No longer do we dream of a world where devices around us are interconnected, share information with one another, and carry out actions autonomously — we are now living in it, thanks to the so-called Internet of Things (IoT).

There's no question that ransomware is one of the most formidable threats to a business. With so much riding on digitized data, important applications and other systems, any interruption to access of these crucial assets can quickly spell disaster for an organization.

Since the mid-1990s, many industrial companies have interconnected their industrial control systems (ICSs) to improve productivity, maintenance, and safety in the operational environment. Some of this interconnectivity was to the Internet. While, this connectivity helped to improved the efficiency, security was at best a minimal consideration.

A large-scale ransomware attack reported to be caused by a variant of the Petya ransomware is currently hitting various users, particularly in Europe. This variant, which Trend Micro already detects as RANSOM_PETYA.SMA, is known to use both the EternalBlue exploit and the PsExec tool as infection vectors. Users and organizations are thus advised to perform the following mitigation steps immediately in order to prevent and avoid infection.

Today, more urban centers than ever are implementing a range of advanced technological systems. These sensors and networks used in combination with citizens' mobile devices create smarter cities capable of reduced pollution, increased safety, better engagement with residents and more accessible transportation options. As the majority of the world's population – 65 percent – will call a city home by 2040, these IoT-centered, city-wide initiatives are well worth the investment.